Mid-West Tool Collectors Show Impressive Antiques

Perfectly pitched, hand-carved threads on a chuck screw. “Every farmer was an engineer back then,” Vaughn Simmons says. “He had to be to survive. That brace had to be straight all the way through or it would wobble.”

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

A German straight-line neck brace from Vaughn’s collection. The piece has a unique lubrication port at the upper neck.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Vaughn with a unique prize in his collection: The original owner’s initials in this Swedish-made brace correspond directly to Vaughn’s name: Douglas Vaughn Simmons.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Emery Goad with a homemade farrier’s buttress, used in trimming hooves.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

A coffee can repurposed as a case for a tape measure. “You gotta go with the materials on hand,” Emery says of the homemade device.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Ornamental marks on one of Vaughn’s braces.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Slightly concave blades make these homemade scissors self-sharpening.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

The oldest rope maker in John Holmes’ collection, this piece could date to the late 1700s or early 1800s.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

James Goodson estimates his handmade potato fork’s weight at more than 10 pounds. At least one tine has been spliced. “He probably hit a rock,” James muses, speculating about a farmer hundreds of years ago.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

John Holmes

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

This rope machine fits on a wagon end gate or a “Can’t Sag” fence gate. John estimates it was used in the early 1900s.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

The pointed end of a fid was used to open strands of a rope before splicing; the top end accommodated either three- or four-strand rope construction.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

The McIntosh rope machine clamped on a fence board or wagon.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Joseph Preusser, St. Cloud, Minn., with a blacksmith-made brace from his collection. The brace boasts a 19-inch sweep, bigger than many of its era (the late 1800s). Joseph worked for decades as a carpenter and cabinet maker. When he bid on antique tools at auctions, onlookers asked if he’d be using the antiques on the job. “No,” he’d say, “I have a museum at home. I don’t smoke, drink, chew gum or chase wild women. I just collect old tools.”

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

A double-claw hammer, a challenging project for even the experienced blacksmith.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

In the 1800s, reamers like this one from Joseph Preusserís collection were used in log cabin construction to secure logs at windows. Rods nearly 2 inches in diameter were inserted into holes drilled by reamers.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Rein holder used when hauling a load of logs stacked tall on a sled. Driven into a log on top, the tool would help the driver keep control of the reins while positioned high above the team.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Jim Moffet’s homemade corn sheller.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Jim doesn’t know what this stone hammer’s intended use was. “Possibly for wood,” he says. “It would have been a pretty good persuader.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

This handmade mallet’s handle is made of oak; the top may be walnut. Used with a chisel, the piece likely dates to the early 1900s.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Hand-forged wrenches displayed by Steve Edwards, Columbiana, Ala.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

A prosthetic device, complete with hammerhead, dating to the 1920s or ’30s.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

Blacksmith-made nut and bolt; the nut is designed to be a locking nut.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

This carpenter’s marking gauge with hand-scribed notches was likely made by a craftsman in the late 1700s or early 1800s.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

#12 is a snow knocker from the Moffet collection. Used to remove built-up snow from horses’ hooves, the tools were hung on a wagon, buggy, sleigh or sled. Small folding models were designed to fit in a pocket or saddle bag.

Photo By Leslie C. McManus

#2: A blacksmith-made screwdriver, reverse-turned four times. #1: Another blacksmith-made screwdriver, appears to be made from a bayonet, perhaps one dating to the American Civil War.